SLAP SHOT; Devils Activate Brodeur

By TOM PEDULLA

Published: March 21, 2013

NEWARK – Goalie Martin Brodeur, whose monthlong absence triggered a tumble in the standings that has the Devils in danger of missing the playoffs, is expected to rejoin the lineup for Thursday night’s game at the Carolina Hurricanes.

Brodeur, 40, had been slowed by a pinched nerve in his back. He was activated Wednesday and said he was ready to make what would be his first start since Feb. 21. “It’s a week and a half or two weeks since I’ve been on the ice,” he said. “All of the symptoms have gone away. I’m ready to go.”

Brodeur, who holds N.H.L. records for wins (664) and shutouts (120), pulled himself from a scheduled start on Feb. 24 when he experienced discomfort in his back while warming up before a game against the Winnipeg Jets. The Devils endured a 3-8-2 slide with Johan Hedberg, 39, starting in Brodeur’s place.

Coach Peter DeBoer said Brodeur will be able to handle his usual heavy workload. “If he says he’s ready to go, I’m taking it that he’s 100 percent healthy and ready to go,” DeBoer said. “I have not been made aware of any asterisk to that statement.”

Brodeur, a four-time winner of the Vezina Trophy, enjoyed a strong start to the lockout-shortened 48-game season by compiling an 8-2-3 record with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. The Devils, after reaching the Stanley Cup finals last season, were vying for the Atlantic Division lead before he sustained an injury the team initially labeled as “day to day.”

“He’s arguably the best goaltender of all time,” DeBoer said. “Do you miss him when he’s not out there? Sure. But it’s not an instant cure for where we’re at.”

The Devils have dropped three consecutive games, including a shootout. Their 3-2 loss to the visiting Rangers on Tuesday night caused them to fall to ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 13-11-6 record, good for 32 points. They have had little margin for error since losing the potent scorer Zach Parise as a free agent last off-season.

Brodeur’s teammates hope his return will provide a needed lift. “It’s always great to have him back,” the veteran left wing Patrik Elias said. “Just his style of play makes it easier on the defense, the way he plays the puck. That helps big time.”

This is a more complete version of the story than the one that appeared in print.